Outlive (The Baggers Trilogy, #1) by Chad Leito Read Free Book Online

blade, first as a punch on his leather, and then going deeper and deeper until he looked down and saw that he couldn’t see the tip of the sword anymore. Where did it go!? Where did it go!? And what is this red?
                  He imagined taking his sword and chopping a great gash in the woman’s neck. He imagined watching her fall to the sand, hands at her neck, and her eyes that say, why did you do that? He wondered the same thing; Why did I do that? It was apparent that I would die anyway! Why stab her? What’s wrong with me? Why hurt more people than necessary?
                  I’m sorry! I wish that I could take it back!
                  He imagined his sword, still lodged in her neck, and trying to pull it out and defend himself as the pack of purple and gold came up on him. He imagined seeing his own teammate run from behind the wall to his assistance, and watching him be taken down in a single swipe.
                  I always thought that Tessa would be at my side as I died. Females usually live longer than males, and I smoke and she doesn’t. I always thought she would hold my hand as I take my last breath and float away into the unknowns of death that I fear so much. But now, as the crowd roars and these horrible warriors fall upon me, there is nothing to do but die here on the hot, unforgiving sand where no one loves me. I hope Tessa doesn’t see this. I hope my girls don’t see this. And I hope that they appreciate that I’m sacrificing my life for them.
                  He felt the first blow—a blunt chop—ring against the metal helmet on his head. He felt a scream tearing up through his vocal cords that sounded like the high-pitched whine a teakettle makes as it lets off steam. He tried to pull back his sword, but it was still lodged in the woman’s neck. Another sword was still in his abdomen, and the red kept painting the ground. He heard the crowd’s sounds reach an even more frantic crescendo of noise, and thought, this is it; they know the deathblow is coming. He saw the sword, gleaming with sunlight as it was raised above him, and didn’t have time to see who was holding it as it came down, and slashed through the front of his neck and his windpipe.
                  He tried to breathe, but couldn’t. He felt what it was like to know you’re going to die. He felt the red, hot liquid gush out over his front and then the other swords came down too. Merciless. Frantic. As mechanical and unforgiving as cancer that unknowingly grows to the point that its host can no longer live.
                  “Baggs?”
                  Baggs screamed, and jumped back from the HoloVision Box. His heart was thudding. He was back at Greggor’s. He wasn’t dead, and he would see Tessa, Olive and Maggie tonight.
                  “Baggs, are you crying?” Greggor asked.
                  Baggs reached a palm up and felt that his cheeks were wet. “Yeah. Just allergies, though.” Baggs looked around and realized that Jacque was gone. “Could I use your bathroom, Greggor?”
                  “Sure, go ahead.”
                  Greggor looked worried. Baggs stood up, went inside the bathroom, and locked the door behind him. He flicked on the light and stared at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and puffy. Big tears were glistening on the thick beard that covered his upper cheeks. His skin had taken on a pale, sickly color, and he felt like vomiting.
                  Get it together! If Greggor thinks I’m a loon, he won’t want to endorse me. Calm yourself, Baggs.
                  Baggs closed his eyes, but all he could see was the sword raised high above him, about to come down and slice his neck. He couldn’t believe how surreal what he had just experienced was. His knees were trembling and he put his hands around the lip of the sink so